Heidi

This is a good dramatization of Johanna Spyri's "Heidi." It stays closer to the original plot line than some others (i.e.--Shirley Temple's). All of the actors and actresses (young and old) do a very good job with the material. Of course, one must expect a certain amount of one-sidedness of characters such as Grandfather. His character is too deep to explore in such a short movie, but his characterization is certainly adequate. This is doubtlessly a movie for kids. If you're looking for something deeper, go elsewhere. It is fun: the kids enjoyed it, and mom did too. (Maximilian Schell is VERY handsome as Herr Sessemann). I borrowed this movie but will definitely buy a copy for our family.

Again, I'd never read the favorite children's book or watched any of the various film versions of this one (though the 1937 Shirley Temple vehicle directed by Allan Dwan is scheduled to screen on Italian TV this very week), so I wasn't familiar with the plot line – other than that it had a mountain setting.

As it turned out, HEIDI proved surprisingly tolerable if hardly exciting fare – sentimental but undeniably moving, generally pleasant (despite the generous 110-minute length), and well acted by a stalwart cast: the heroine was played by Blake Edwards' daughter, Jennifer, and she was supported by Maximilian Schell, Jean Simmons, Michael Redgrave, Walter Slezak, Peter van Eyck, and John Moulder-Brown as Heidi's young shepherd-boy friend.

The story deals with an orphaned girl who finds herself torn between living with her gruff and hermit-like grandfather (Redgrave) and a wealthy uncle (Schell), who has a crippled daughter resenting the intrusion. Needless to say, Heidi's influence softens everyone towards a happy ending – subplots involve Schell's muted relationship with governess Simmons, Redgrave's religious conflicts (benevolent clergyman Slezak, then, wants him to pick up his organ-playing activity at the church) and the crippled girl's recovery (she's entrusted in the care of doctor van Eyck, but it's Redgrave's unorthodox 'treatment' which finally reaps results).

Very good version of the familiar story of Heidi.Children will like it and so will parents.This version has Maximilian Shell as Heidi's uncle (father of the crippled girl Clara).Lovely Jean Simmons is Clara's governess who is (unknown to him) in love with Heidi's uncle.

The romance is sweet and so is the rest.The whole cast does a good job and it is VERY well done...scenery is beautiful.Jean Simmons is the great jewel here but it's all a fine version of Heidi.

Heidi was one of my favorite books as a child, and I have been disappointed in all the filmed versions.

This one annoyed me in particular because it changed a key part of the plot. In the book, Heidi is miserable in Frankfurt not only because she misses Switzerland but because Fräulein Rottenmeier is so mean to her. One gets the impression from the book that this character is a bitter, uptight older woman who takes out her frustrations on the energetic and non-conforming Swiss child.

So who plays Fräulein Rottenmeier in this version? Jean Simmons, who was still in her thirties and quite glamorous looking. She was so not only portrayed as being really sweet and understanding, but also as being in love with Klara's widowed father.

In other respects, the TV movie follows the book quite faithfully and was well acted, especially by the girl who played Klara, so the addition of a love interest seems quite unnecessary.

I want to rewatch this and then review it again. I feel it is very special to me so even if it is bad, as I kid I really liked it, I will still rate it highly.